3rd Grade Reading List
Most 3rd Graders are reading well and able to pick up most picture books and short chapter books to read themselves. To help your 3rd grader pick some good quality books with great character development, story lines, rich language, and more - I’ve gathered this list of must read books for 3rd graders.
Many books are wonderful read alouds at various ages. For more ideas take a peak at all our book recommendations and our Reading Comprehension Bookmarks (any book: fiction or non fiction) to ensure your child is understanding what they are reading.
Here are some great ideas for Creating a Reading Nook where kids will want to curl up and read a book!
Great Books to Read Aloud with 3rd Graders
The Candymaker by Wendy Mass
Tree in the Trail by Holling C. Holling
Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry
Swift Rivers by Cornelia Meigs
Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes
Calico Bush by Rachel Field
Carry On Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
The Journeyman by Elizabeth Yates
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka
Little House in the Big Woods (1st of series) by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Twits by Roald Dahl
Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look 
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker 
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters An African Tale by John Steptoe 
Dog Diaries: Secret Writings of the Woof Society by Betsy Byars
Falling Up by Shel Silverstein
The Mouse Family Robinson by Dick King-Smith
7 x 9 = Trouble! by Claudia Mills
Maybelle in the Soup by Katie Speck
Pippi Longstocking Series by Astrid Lindgren
A Series of Unfortunate Events Series by Lemony Snicket
A Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop
Books for 3rd Graders to Read Themselves
The following books are all great selections for 3rd graders to read themselves. The book level is noted in parenthesis after the book. For more information, see my Making Sense of Reading Levels for Parents.
Arithme-Tickle: An Even Number of Odd Riddle-Rhymes by J. Patrick Lewis
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (2.2)
A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla (2.9)
Squanto Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla (3.0)
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine (3.0)
Landmark Book Meet George Washington by Joan Heilbroner (3.4)
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan (3.4)
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh (3.5)
Landmark Book Meet Thomas Jefferson by Marvin Barrett (3.5)
The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh (4.0)
Download 3rd Grade Reading List
To make it easies to pick out books at the library I made a printable from this list. Just pick the style you like and print that page. Fold in half and laminate for a convenient bookmark. Use a dry erase markers to cross off books you’ve finished.
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>> 3rd Grade Reading List <<
Did I miss one of your child’s favorite Chapter Books? I’d love to add to this list. Feel free to leave me the book title and author in the comments!
